Remediation of phenanthrene-contaminated soil by simultaneous persulfate chemical oxidation and biodegradation processes

MORA V.C.; MADUEÑO L.; PELUFFO M; ROSSO J.A.; DEL PANNO M. T.; MORELLI I. S.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: Bordeaux; Año: 2014 vol. 21 p. 7548 - 7556

0944-1344

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are ubiquitous compounds with carcinogenic and/or mutagenic potential. To address the limitations of individual remediation techniques and to achieve better PAH removal efficiencies, the combination of chemical and biological treatments can be used. The degradation of phenanthrene (chosen as a model of PAH) by persulfate in freshly contaminated soil microcosms was studied to assess its impact on the biodegradation process and on soil properties. Soil microcosms contaminated with 140 mg/kg DRY SOIL of phenanthrene were treated with different persulfate (PS) concentrations 0.86?41.7 g/kg DRY SOIL and incubated for 28 days. Analyses of phenanthrene and persulfate concentrations and soil pH were performed. Cultivable heterotrophic bacterial count was carried out after 28 days of treatment. Genetic diversity analysis of the soil microcosm bacterial community was performed by PCR amplification of bacterial 16S rDNA fragments followed by DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis). The addition of PS in low concentrations could be an interesting biostimulatory strategy that managed to shorten the lag phase of the phenanthrene biological elimination, without negative effects on the physicochemical and biological soil properties, improving the remediation treatment.